Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

I refused to talk to him since that night. He came around and apologised a million times, but I didn’t even look at him. I was so mad and disappointed in him. More so because he wanted to hurt Elle than the whole betrayal. The others were more mad about the betrayal and punched him a few times as a payback – while he was still injured – before they forgave him. It was too bloody and violent, but I didn’t stop them. He holds responsibility for what he did.

Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I did neglect him since I began focusing on detoxing from Omega. He might be an outgoing person, but Kyle has always been lonely. He looked up to me for everything, but I thought that he grew up and didn’t need my guidance anymore.

Apparently, I was wrong. And I hold responsibility for it. If Scar didn’t stop him from committing suicide, I would’ve never forgiven myself.

That’s why I put in a word for him with Nikolai. He’s to treat Kyle how he’d treat me.

“Remember, there’s one rule, Kylie: Stay alive.” Scar ruffles his hair.

His face is all bruised with a galaxy of fading blue and yellow from how much they punched him. Flame enjoyed punching him the most, even though I secretly think he knew all about Kyle’s plan. He has a way of knowing about everything and keeping it to himself.

Kyle groans and swats Scar’s hand away. “Stop it. I’m not a kid.”

“You certainly were the other night,” Shadow mocks. “You drove me up the window.”

“It’s up the wall, not the window.” Flame blows nicotine in Shadow’s face.

“Same thing.”

A small rustle comes from my side. Mist. She stands shoulder to shoulder with me and crosses her arms under her chest. “Why are you hiding?”

“What are you doing here?” I shoot back. “Shouldn’t you be stalking Hawk?”

A gloom darkens the light colour of her eyes and they fill with deep sadness and hurt. “It’s better if I don’t.” The emotions flee as soon as they came. “Are you still avoiding Elle?”

“I’m not.” I grit out. “It’s for her best interest. You know that.”

“She has the right to decide what’s in her best interest, Ghost. She’s an adult, not a kid.”

I narrow my eyes. “Since when do you take her side?”

“Since we’re in the same boat.” She points a finger at my chest. “Don’t repeat me and Hawk, Ghost. It’s not fun.”

She readjusts her hair, and for once, it doesn’t bring the image of blood.

Mist gives me another look over and walks towards the others who are teasing Kyle.

I release a breath and follow her. All chatter stops abruptly. Kyle’s face contorts and he fidgets. Fuck. I haven’t seen him fidget since he was a child.

I might be still mad at him, but he’ll always be my son.

Nothing will change that.

My shoulders relax and I offer him a fatherly look. “Call me when you need a drink or if the Russians bully you. I’ll teach them a lesson.”

Shadow and Mist smile. Flame continues smoking, and Scar nudges me.

Kyle’s wide grin almost splits his face over. “Will do, Godfather!”





Shadow finds me when I’m pouring myself a drink in Mist’s office. Since I don’t sleep in the safe house anymore, I’m sharing the sofas with Flame. I can tell he loves it by the scowls he gives me every now and again.

“Now that Kyle left, we’re all stuck with the old hag as the only entertainment.” Shadow grabs a glass and chugs half of it down then sits beside me. “Where is she anyway?”

“She still needs some time with the Omega withdrawal.” I down a shot of scotch. Alcohol has become like water now. No matter how much I drink, it just doesn’t wash away the memories or the heartache.

Silence falls in the office, except for the clinking of glass against glass as either Shadow or I pour more alcohol. Misery does love bloody company.

“Hades called,” I say after a while.

“Let me guess.” Shadow runs a hand through his already dishevelled hair. “He hates that you twisted his hand to free Hawk.”

“Something like that.” I twirl the drink in my hand. “He’s sending someone to supervise us.”

Shadow pauses with the drink halfway to his mouth. “Who is it?”

“He didn’t say, trying to put us on edge, I’m sure. But Celeste gave me a tip.”

“If it’s one of the second generation, then he must be getting stupid.” Shadow huffs. “We trained those losers.”

“No. It’s not the second generation.”

“One of the guards?”

I shake my head. “One of his partners.”

“Bloody hell.” Shadow’s lips part. “I thought they only existed to share the profit and never show their heads.”

“That’s what I thought, too.” I swallow the burning shot. “But apparently he’s playing a different game.”

The Pit’s board – if it can be called that – has always been filled with international rich people as sick as Hades. They’re stockholders who play from behind curtains while Hades stays at the forefront. Owen, the head of this mafia business, is a small fish amongst them. That says something about how fucked up the rest are.